Decorating device structure



May 17, 193s. LMLRAY MONb 2,117,501

DECORATING DEVICE STRUCTURE F 94 1 129.5 .Z iy.

Patented May 17, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application March 29,

Claims.

This invention relates to an ornamental device and while the samemay-have use in many places, one particular use thereofisfor Christmastrees. This invention is the development of and im- 5 provement on theinvention of applicant disclosed and claimed in U. S. Letters Patent No.1,976,093, granted October 9, 1934.

In the commercial handling of the device the parts are placed in a boxand the depending strips are usually not connected to the flexiblestrands orsupport. It has been found that it is rather tedious and takessome time to secure the flexible strand through an eye or aperture inthestrip members.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a simple andefiicientmeans whereby the flexible members can be very quickly andeasily attached to the depending strips and to the support.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a decorating devicecomprising a member formed of astrip of sheet material, the same havinga cut or slit formed therein extending-at an angle to its longitudinalaxis in which a flexible strand of fabric may bewedged andthus securedto said member.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a decoratingdevicecomprising a supporting member formed of a strip of thin sheetmaterial having a series of cuts or slits formed therein extending at anangle to its longitudinal axisin which slits or cutsof a flexible membermay be secured by wedging or clamping.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forthin the fol lowingdescription made in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which like reference characters refer tosimilarparts throughout the several views and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing a portion of adecoratingdevice;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper end of an ornamental member;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modification;

Fig. 4 is aview similar to Fig. 2 showing another modification;

Fig. 5 is a view similar'to Fig. 2 also showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a further modification;

Fig. .7 is a view in front elevation of the upper end of an ornamentalmember and attaching means;

1935, Serial No. 13,637

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing a .inodification;

Fig. 9 is a partial View of a supporting member of modified form;

Fig. lO'is aview similar to Fig. 9 showing another modification;

Fig. 11 is a partial view of the decorating device with a modified formof support; and

Fig. 12 is a section taken on line |2l2 of Fig. 11 shownon an enlargedscale.

Referring to Fig. 1, a decorating device is shown comprising asupporting member l5 illustrated as an elongated member formed of astrip of thin sheet material. Member Hi has formed in its upper end aplurality of cuts or slits 1511 which i' extend at a small angle to thelongitudinal axis or median line of member 15. These slits form smalltongues E51) which are tapered and have comparatively sharp points. Themember [5 will be provided with some sort of supporting meansand forthis purpose a cord, thread or other small flexible member 55 may haveits ends wedged in apair oi the cuts 950, respectively, the sameextending above member iii in a loop which may be engaged with or over asuitable support. .It has been found in practice that the thread or cordneed onlybe pulled into or adjacent the end of the slit a when it willbe securelyclamped or wedged therein and be held very firmly to iormasupporting means. threads, cords or flexible members H are illustratedas having their ends wedged in the other cuts Mia and these membersdepend fromniember l5 and support themembers l8, l9, and 20.

The members l8, l9, and 20 are formed of thin strips of sheet materialsuch as tin and are twisted to form a helix in the manner shown in Fig.11 and as shown in the above identified prior patent. Member 13 is shownas having a slit or cut l8a made therein from one edge, the sameextending at an angle to the longitudinal axis or median line of member58. A tongue 8b is thus formed and the flexible member I! is shown asbeing wedged in the cut Ilia adjacent its end. Member I8 is thussupported by memberll and member 11 extends upward from the endof slitl8a substantially centrally of member 18.

The member lii shown in Figs. 1 and 3 has its upper end I911 reverselybent to lie close to and parallel with the body of member HE. A cut orslit l9b is made in member It at the bight of the bend, which slitextends substantially halfway across member l9. The flexible memberllhas its-end portion disposed in the slit 19b and" Other iii) wedgedtherein as shown in Fig. 1 so that said flexible member extends upwardlyfrom substantially the central part of member I 9 and member 19 isfirmly secured to member H and depends therefrom.

The member 29 has a tongue 20a out therefrom adjacent its upper end,said tongue being formed by cuts intersecting at quite a small angle sothat said tongue tapers to a point, which point is directed downwardly.One side of tongue 20a and thus the cut forming said side extend at anangle to the longitudinal axis or median line of member 28. The memberI! has its lower end portion disposed beneath tongue 20a and wedged insaid inclined slit at one side of said tongue. Member 2!] is thussupported and suspended from member H and firmly secured thereto.

In Fig. 5, a strip 2% is shown, similar to strips l8 to 2B, and the samehas cuts Zia made in the opposite sides thereof, said cuts extendingupwardly at a small angle to the longitudinal axis or median line ofmember 2!, one of said cuts being disposed slightly above the other.Tapered and pointed tongues 2 lb are thus formed with their pointsdirected downwardly. In Fig. 8 a cord, thread or other flexible member22 is shown as having its end portions disposed in and wedged in thecuts Ela and passing beneath the tongues 21b. Said member 22 extendsupwardly substantially centrally of member 2| and is formed into a loopwhich may be engaged over any suitable support, as over the twig of aChristmas tree as shown in Fig. 7.

In Fig. 7 another ornamental member 23 is shown having cuts or slits 23aformed in the body thereof, the same extending at an angle to thelongitudinal axis or median line of member 23, said cuts convergingdownwardly and meeting substantially at the center of member 23 so thata pointed tongue is formed. Said tongue is divided substantiallycentrally by another cut 23b, thus having the portions 230 both of whichare pointed and have their points directed downwardly. A cord, thread orother flexible member 24 has its end portions passing through the cut23?) and extending in opposite directions under the parts 230 to bewedged in the cuts 23a so that member 23 is supported by member 24. Themember 24 extends upwardly substantially centrally from member 23 and isformed as a loop illustrated as being engaged over a twig 25 formingpart of a Christmas tree.

In Fig. 9 another elongated supporting member 26 is shown formed of astrip of thin sheet material and the same is shown as having cuts 26aformed therein from its upper edge extending at a small angle to thelongitudinal axis or median line of member 26 to form tapered andpointed tongues 26?) shown as extending to the left in Fig. 9. Othercuts 260 are formed in member 26 extending from its lower edge at asmall angle to its longitudinal axis or median line, which cuts formtapered and pointed tongues 26d shown as pointing to the right in Fig.9. A cord, thread or other flexible member 21 is shown as having its endportion extending beneath one tongue 26d and one tongue 26b and wedgedin the cuts 260 and 26a. Member 21 is thus firmly secured to member 26and can be used to support an ornamental device such as the members i8to 20.

In Fig. 10 another elongated supporting mem ber 28 is shown formed of astrip of thin sheet material and the same has formed therein cuts 28aextending downwardly from its upper edge substantially at right anglesto its longitudinal axis or median line. A cord, thread or otherflexible member 29 is shown as having its upper end portion disposed inand wedged tightly in the bottom of one of the cuts 28a. Member 29 isthus firmly supported in member 28 and can be used to support adecorating or ornamental device. Members or bars 26 and 28 will besupported in any suitable manner.

In Fig. 6 an ornamental member 30 is shown formed of a narrow strip ofthin sheet material, the same having a pointed end 30a which isreversely bent to lie close to and substantially parallel to the body ofmember 30. A cord, thread or other flexible member (not shown) can haveits end portion disposed beneath the bent end 30a and clamped betweenthe same and the body of member 30 to support member 30.

In Fig, 11 another supporting member 3| is shown, the same also beingelongated and formed of thin sheet material. Member 3! has an aperture31a and slit 31b formed adjacent its lower and upper edges respectivelyand a hook 32 has its upper hook portion disposed in aperture 3m and itslower hook portion disposed in apertures 33a formed in the upper end ofa twisted member 33.

In Fig. 11 another strip 34 also is shown having a slit 34a at its upperend in which the lower end of a flexible supporting strand 36 isengaged. Strand 36 is preferably of twisted formation, the same thushaving a tendency to oscillate about its longitudinal axis. Strip 3 3 isnot twisted but the same is covered with granules 35 of tinsel or othersimilar highly reflecting substance. While said material may be placedon one side of the strip only, it is shown in Fig. 12 as placed on bothsides. The strip 34 will first preferably be covered with a liquid orsemi-liquid adhesive and the granules designated 35 then placed on theadhesive so that they will be held firmly on the strip when the adhesivedries. The strip 34 will give a glittering effect in diiferent ways asit partially rotates on its longitudinal axis. The light is reflectedfrom the sides of the granules which are disposed in many differentplanes.

In the use of the device as described, the supporting members I5, 26, or28 can be packed in a box together with the members l8, I9, 20, 2|, or23 and suitable flexible members or pieces thereof placed in the box.When the user wishes to place the twisted members on the tree he cantake the cords, threads or flexible members and very quickly engage thesame in the slits l5a, 26a, 26d or 28a as the case may be. He can alsovery quickly and easily engage the flexible members in the cuts or slitsshown in the twisted members. It takes but a slight moment of time tothus connect the twisted members with the flexible members and thetwisted members may be placed about on the tree either singly orsuspended from one of the supporting members I5, 26, or 28 as desired,The tedious and rather slow operation of tying the flexible membersthrough small apertures in the twisted strips is thus not necessary. Asstated in the above identified patent the twisted strips when supportedby the flexible members as described have a tendency to rotate abouttheir longitudinal axes due to the twisting action of the flexiblemembers. This rotation of the twisted strips makes them appear to bemoving up and down and also varies the reflection of light therefrom sothat a very pleasing ornamental effect is produced. The appearance anddecoration of the Christmas tree is greatly enhanced by having a numberof the strips or groups thereof disposed thereon. The device has alsobeen found to have great utility as a decorating device when made in alarger size and used as a screen for the rear of a window or stage. Thesuspended twisted strips give a very unusual and pleasing appearance. Insome installations it has been found that a supporting means such asshown in Fig. 11 is desirable. The hooks 32 can be easily engaged withand disengaged from the support and the twisted strips.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided quitean improvement upon the device disclosed and claimed in his prior patentand has solved the problem of attaching the flexible members to thestrips and support in a very effective way. The parts can now be veryeasily and quickly assembled and placed where desired. The device hasbeen amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be verysuccessful and efficient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicant's invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. An ornamental device comprising a bar extending horizontally andhaving spaced slits formed therein along one side extending at a smallangle to the longitudinal axis of said bar thus forming tongues, aflexible fabric cord wedged beneath each of said tongues at the end ofsaid slits and depending from said bar, and a suspended member made ofan elongated narrow strip of thin flexible material having a slit cuttherein at one side extending at a small angle to the longitudinal axisof said strip, said cord being wedged in said slit and extendingupwardly centrally of said member and acting to support the same fromsaid bar whereby no relative movement of said cord and strip or of saidcord and bar is possible.

2. A device of the class described having in combination, a barextending horizontally and having spaced slits cut therein at itsopposite sides extending at a small angle to the longitudinal axis ofsaid bar, said slits forming tongues, which tongues face in oppositedirections at the respective sides of said bar, a flexible cord wedgedbeneath a pair of said tongues disposed substantially at the ends of theslits forming said tongues and transversely of said bar, said cord beingadapted to form. a support and a suspended member made of an elongatednarrow strip of thin material supported by said cord having a slitextending downwardly therein adjacent its upper end making a small anglewith the longitudinal axis thereof and extending substantially to thecenter of said strip, said cord being wedged in said slit and extendingcentrally of said strip.

3. A suspended member forming an ornamental device made of a narrowelongated strip of flexible material having slits cut therein atopposite sides of its longitudinal center line adjacent one end thereof,said slits extending at a small angle to the longitudinal axis of saidstrip and both extending towards the opposite end of said strip, and a.flexible fabric cord having its end portions respectively wedged in saidslits and extending outwardly thereunder in opposite directions, thestrands of said cord extending upwardly from said slits and formed intoa loop at its upper end, said cord constituting a support for saidstrip, there being no relative movement between said cord and strip.

4. A suspended member forming an ornamental device made of a narrowelongated strip of thin flexible material, said, strip having cutsformed therein adjacent one end and spaced from the sides thereofforming a pair of narrow elongated pointed tongues disposed side by sideand directed toward the other end of said strip and a flexible fabriccord having its end portions directed outwardly in opposite directionsand wedged respectively beneath said tongues substantially at the endsof said cuts, the strands of said cords extending upwardly between saidtongues and formed into a loop at their upper ends, said cordconstituting a support for said strip, there being no relative movementbetween said cord and strip.

5. A suspended member forming an ornamental device and made of a narrowelongated strip of thin flexible material, said member having a slit cuttherein from one side adjacent its upper end and extending at a. smallangle to the longitudinal axis of said strip to form a tongue and asmall flexible fabric cord extending transversely of said tongue andwedged thereunder at the end of said slit and extending upwardlycentrally of said strip and forming a support therefor, said flexiblecord thus having no movement relative to said strip.

LAMBERT L. RAYMOND.

